Automatic analysis device

Abstract

After an analysis start instruction is input in a state where a sample is not dispensed to all of reaction containers 104 mounted on a reaction disc 105 , before completing an analysis preparation washing process for washing the reaction container 104 to be used in analyzing the sample to be first analyzed, a soaking and washing process for performing soaking and washing during a predetermined period of time is controlled to be started by dispensing a soaking and washing detergent to another reaction container 104 different from the reaction container 104 . In this manner, the soaking and washing can be efficiently performed on the reaction container without hindering an analysis process.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. An automatic analysis device comprising:
 a sample container conveyance path that conveys a plurality of sample containers respectively containing samples to be analyzed; 
 a reagent disc holding a plurality of reagent containers respectively containing reagents for use in analyzing the samples; 
 a reaction disk holding a plurality of reaction containers at respective positions around a circumference of the reaction disk; 
 a sample dispensing mechanism disposed at a sample dispensing position that is configured to dispense samples into reaction containers on the reaction disk and dispense a first detergent into reaction containers on the disk; 
 a photometer disposed at a photometer position that is configured to detect a light absorbance of a liquid within a reaction container on the reaction disk; and 
 a control device, connected to the reaction disk, the sample dispensing mechanism, and the photometer, that is programmed to: 
 upon receiving a start instruction to start analysis of at least a first sample contained in a first sample container of the plurality of sample containers, rotate the reaction disk so that a first reaction container at a first position of the reaction disk is positioned at each of a liquid suction position, a detergent discharge position, a water discharge position, and a remaining liquid position, in the afore-mentioned order, wherein each of the liquid suction position, the detergent discharge position, the water discharge position, and the remaining liquid positions are adjacent to the circumference of the reaction disk, 
 after rotating the first reaction container at the first position on the reaction disk to the remaining liquid position, rotate the first reaction container at the first position to the sample dispensing position and control the sample dispensing mechanism to discharge the first sample, 
 before controlling the sample dispensing mechanism to discharge the first sample and simultaneously while rotating the first reaction container at the first position on the reaction disk to each of the liquid suction position, the detergent discharge position, the water discharge position, and the remaining liquid position, control the sample dispensing mechanism to discharge the first detergent to a plurality of other reaction containers other than the first reaction container that are disposed at respective positions on the reaction disk, as the reaction disk rotates, 
 after the first sample is dispensed into the first reaction container rotate the reaction disk to the photometer position and control the photometer to analyze the sample by detecting a light absorbance of a reaction liquid including the first sample. 
 
     
     
       2. The automatic analysis device according to  claim 1 ,
 further comprising a reagent dispensing mechanism disposed at a reagent dispensing position that is configured to dispense reagents into reaction containers on the reaction disk and dispense the first detergent into reaction containers on the disk. 
 
     
     
       3. The automatic analysis device according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the control device is programmed to determine a plurality of reaction container groups respectively configured to include one or more of the reaction containers, 
 wherein a first group of the groups includes the first reaction container and a second group of the groups includes the plurality of other reaction containers. 
 
     
     
       4. The automatic analysis device according to  claim 3 ,
 wherein control the reaction disk to stop rotation at each of the liquid suction position, the detergent discharge position, the water discharge position, and the remaining liquid position, 
 wherein the groups include a third group which, upon receiving a start instruction subsequent to the previous start instruction, does not include any reaction containers that had the first detergent discharged therein, and 
 wherein after receiving the subsequent analysis start instruction, the reaction disk is rotated so that a reaction container of the third group is rotated directly to the sample dispensing position without stopping. 
 
     
     
       5. The automatic analysis device according to  claim 3 , further comprising:
 a display unit connected to the control device, 
 wherein the control device is programmed to: 
 display, on the display unit, a setting screen for setting a number of the reaction containers which have the second detergent dispensed therein by the sample dispensing mechanism every day of the week. 
 
     
     
       6. The automatic analysis device according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a cleaning mechanism disposed adjacent to the reaction disk, 
 wherein at the liquid suction position, liquid within the first reaction container is suction by the cleaning mechanism, 
 wherein at the detergent discharge position, a second detergent is discharged into the first reaction container by the cleaning mechanism, 
 wherein at the water discharge position, water is discharged into the first reaction container by the cleaning mechanism, and 
 wherein at the remaining liquid position, liquid is suctioned from the first reaction container by the cleaning mechanism.